Apparatus for rotating spindle at high speed

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for rotating a spindle at high speed comprising three rollers encompassing the spindle. The rollers are positioned to frictionally engage the driving whorl of the spindle to axially and rotatably support the same, and the diameters of the three rollers are substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle whorl such that the spindle is rotated at a multiple of the speed of the rollers. In one embodiment, a drive belt engages one of the rollers to effect rotation of the spindle and other two rollers, and in a second embodiment a circular band surrounds the three rollers and engages the drive belt. In both embodiments, means are provided for resiliently biasing the rollers into firm frictional engagement with the rollers.

[451 Feb. 27, 1973 APPARATUS FOR ROTATING SPINDLE AT HIGH SPEED [75] Inventor: Norbert J. B. Verhellen, Hickory,

[73] Assignee: Regal Manufacturing Company,

Hickory, NC.

22 Filed: Jan. 19, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 107,629

[52] US. Cl ..74/206, 57/77.45 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6h 13/02, DOlh 7/46, DOlh 7/92 [58] Field of Search ....74/206, 210; 57/5857, 58.59,

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,023,445 3/1966 GreatBritain ..57/77.45 636,362 3/1962 Italy ..57/77.45

Primary Examiner-Leonard H. Gerin Attorney-Patron, Bell, Seltzer, Park & Gibson [57] ABSTRACT An apparatus for rotating a spindle at high speed comprising three rollers encompassing the spindle. The rollers are positioned to frictionally engage the driving whorl of the spindle to axially and rotatably support the same, and the diameters of the three rollers are substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle whorl such that the spindle is rotated at a multiple of the speed of the rollers. In one embodiment, a drive belt engages one of the rollers to effect rotation of the spindle and other two rollers, and in a second embodiment a circular band surrounds the three rollers and engages the drive belt. In both embodiments, means are provided for resiliently biasing the rollers into firm frictional engagement with the rollers.

4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENIEU E 3,718,050

sum 1 0F 4 IIIIIA l INVENTOR: NORBEQT OT ElVERHELLE-N ATTORNEY-S PATENTEDFEBZ'I ma SHEET 20F 4 III INVENTOR: Noraaem" I E). VEEHELLELN mma fiwwm v ATTORNEYS 'VIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIA PATENTEU 3.718050 INVENTOR. JJF- 6 Noam-:21" I E. VEEHELLEN maemgg/ww ATTORNEYS APPARATUS FOR ROTATING SPINDLE AT HIGH SPEED The present invention relates to yarn processing machines of the type having spindles driven by drive belts or tapes. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for efficiently rotating a yarn bobbin or the like at a high speed.

In conventional spinning frames as well as some other types of yarn processing machines, rows of vertically disposed spindles are designed to coaxially mount the yarn bobbins, and extend along opposite sides of the machine. An endless drive tape extends around a driving member such as a pulley or drum roller, and around the whorls of the spindles to rotate the same. Conventionally, the spindles are supported by a pair of spaced ball bearings located at one end thereof, and are rotated at speeds up to about 40,000 rpm. It will be readily appreciated that such speeds can cause undue wear on the spindle bearings, and this factor results in the machine being frequently shut down for replacement of the worn bearings. As a result, the cost of operating the machine is increased and its overall efficiency is reduced.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a driving transmission for use with various yarn processing machines wherein the spindles may be rotated at high speed without employing conventional ball bearing supports.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus of the described type wherein the spindle is axially and rotatably supported by a number of surrounding rollers, and wherein the spindle is adapted to be rotated by the rollers at a multiple of their speed of rotation.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved in the embodiments of the invention described herein by provision of a rotatable spindle defining a first axis, and a plurality of rollers encompassing the spindle and having circular peripheral edges adapted to frictionally engage the spindle. The diameter of each roller is substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle such that the spindle is rotated at a multiple of the speed of the rollers. A drive belt is provided for rotating at least one of the rollers, whereby the rotational movement is transferred to the spindle and the remaining rollers.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, others will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a driving transmission embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of the driving transmission shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the transmission taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view taken substantially along the line 7-7 ofFIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side view similar to that of FIG. 7, but illustrating a modified spindle whorl.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, a driving transmission for rotating a yarn bobbin at high speed and embodying the features of the present invention is illustrated generally at 10 in FIG. 1. The transmission includes a spindle 12 adapted to mount a yarn bobbin (not shown) in the conventional manner, and includes a pair of spaced tapered shoulders l4'defining a driving whorl 15.

Three driving rollers, 16, 17 and 18 are mounted to encompass the spindle 12, with each of the three rollers being mounted for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to the spindle axis. The roller 16 is carried by the shaft 20 which is fixedly secured to the frame 22 of the apparatus, while the rollers 17 and 18 are carried by shafts 23 and 24 which are laterally movable in relation to the spindle 12 as further described below.

Each of the three rollers 16-18 comprises a pair of spaced parallel discs defining a circular peripheral edge, and a coaxially disposed cylindrical hub interposed between the discs. More particularly, the roller 16 comprises spaced discs 26 and 27, and a hub 28. The axial length of the rollers 17 and 18 is somewhat greater than that of the roller 16, and both comprise discs 30 and 31 and a central hub 32, note FIG. 4. Also viewing FIG. 4, it will be apparent that the discs of all three rollers operatively engage the tapered shoulders 14 of whorl 15 for axially supporting the spindle and for transmitting rotational movement therebetween. The rollers 16-18 may be fabricated from any suitable resilient material having suitable surface wearing and friction qualities, and may for example be molded from a polymeric material such as polyurethane.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the shafts 23 and 24 carrying rollers 17 and 18 are laterally biased toward the spindle 12 to ensure a firm frictional contact between the roller discs and whorl 15. For this purpose, each of the rollers 17 and 18 is mounted by an arrangement which includes a flexible spring arm 34 having one end fixedly mounted to the frame 22 at post 35, and an opposite end connected to an L-shaped bracket 36. The bracket 36 in turn carries the associated roller shaft intermediate its ends, and includes an opposite end 38 which is pivotally connected to a threaded member 40, note FIG. 2.

To adjustably position the end 38 of each bracket 36, and thus the rollers 17 and 18, in relation to the spindle 12, there is provided a threaded shaft 42 for interconnecting the two threaded members 40. More particularly, the shaft 42 extends perpendicular to the axis of spindle 12 and parallel to a line extending perpendicularly between the axes of shafts 23 and 24 of rollers 17 and 18. The shaft 42 includes a first threaded portion 43 mounting the threaded member 40 associated with roller 17 and a second threaded portion 44 of opposite hand mounting the threaded member 40 associated with roller 18. An intermediate handle 45 is provided to facilitate rotation of the shaft 42, whereby the members 40, brackets 36, and associated rollers may be simultaneously translated toward or away from the spindle 12 to thereby permit adjustment of the lateral biasing force from spring arm 34.

As seen in FIGS. 1 and 4, an endless spindle drive tape 48 operatively engages the hub 28 or roller 16. The tape 48 is rotatably driven by a conventional driving member (not shown) and in turn rotates the roller l6, spindle 12, and following rollers 17 and 18. Since the diameters of the rollers 16-18 are substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle whorl 15, the spindle will rotate at a multiple of the speed of the three rollers. Also, since there are no ball bearings directly contacting the spindle 12, the problem of its high rotational speed causing undue wear on such bearings is eliminated.

A second embodiment of a driving transmission incorporating the features of the present invention is shown in FIGS. -8. In this embodiment, three substantially identical rollers 51, 52, and 53 encompass the spindle 55 and engage the tapered shoulders 56 thereof to axially and rotatably support the same. The rollers 51-53 are generally similar in construction to the above described rollers 16-18, and each is mounted on a laterally adjustable shaft (not shown) which is in turn carried at the free end of a resilient spring arm 60. The opposite ends of the spring arms 60 are fixedly mounted to the frame 62 of the apparatus and a threaded stud 64 is mounted intermediate the ends thereof to resiliently bias the rollers toward the axis of the spindle 55. Thus by rotation of the threaded studs 64, the biasing force on the spindle may be easily adjusted.

To rotate the rollers 51-53 and thus the spindle 55, a circular band 65 surrounds the three rollers and is designed to contact the peripheral edge of each roller at a point generally opposite the spindle. The band 65 may be fabricated from a variety of suitable materials, such as plastic, and as shown has a cross-sectional configuration presenting a circular outer surface 66 and a inner surface having oppositely tapered portions 67 and 68 which are designed to retain the band in position about the rollers. An endless spindle drive tape 70 is brought into frictional contact with the outer surface 66 of the band, whereby rotation of the tape 70 effects rotation of the band 65, rollers 51-53, and spindle 55.

A second embodiment of a spindle is shown at 72 in FIG. 8 and includes oppositely facing tapered shoulders 74 defining a whorl 75. The discs of the rollers 51-53 engage the tapered shoulders 74 and thereby axially and rotatably support the spindle in a manner equivalent to that described above.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, and

although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is: ll An apparatus for rotating a yarn bobbin or the like at high speed comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to mount a yarn bobbin or the like for rotation about a first axis, means mounting said spindle for rotation about said first axis comprising a plurality of rollers encompassing said spindle, each of said rollers being mounted for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to said first axis and including a circular peripheral edge adapted to frictionally engage said spindle, the diameter of said circular peripheral edge of each roller being substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle whereby the spindle will rotate at a multiple of the speed of said rollers,

means for laterally biasing at least one of said rollers toward said spindle to thereby ensure continued frictional contact between said spindle and said rollers, and

means for rotating at least one of said rollers,

whereby rotational movement is transferred to said spindle, said rotating means including a rotatable circular band contacting the peripheral edge of each roller at a point generally opposite said spindle, said band defining an outer cylindrical driving surface, an endless tape operatively engaging said band driving surface, and drive means for rotating said endless tape to thereby effect rotation of said band, rollers, and spindle.

2. An apparatus for rotating a yarn bobbin or the like at high speed comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to mount a yarn bobbin or the like for rotation about a first axis, said spindle including a pair of axially spaced tapered shoulders defining a whorl,

means mounting said spindle for rotation about said first axis comprising first, second and third rollers encompassing said spindle, each of said rollers being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said first axis and comprising a pair of spaced parallel discs and a coaxially disposed hub interposed between said discs, said pair of discs of each roller operatively engaging said spindle whorl for axially supporting said spindle and for transmitting rotational movement therebetween, the diameter of said pair of discs of each roller being substantially greater than the effective diameter of said spindle whorl whereby the spindle will be rotated at a multiple of the speed of said rollers,

an endless drive tape operatively engaging the hub of said first roller,

means for rotating said endless tape whereby the rollers and spindle are rotated, and

means for mounting said first roller for rotation about a fixed axis, and means for laterally biasing said second and third rollers toward said spindle axis to ensure a firm frictional contact between said rollers and said spindle whorl, said biasing means comprising a flexible spring arm mounting each of said second and third rollers, one end of each spring arm being fixedly mounted and the opposite end of each spring arm carrying the associated roller, and means for adjustably positioning said opposite end of each spring arm to permit adjustment of the lateral biasing force.

3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for adjustably positioning the opposite end of each spring arm comprises a threaded shaft extending perpendicular to said first axis and parallel to a line extending perpendicularly between the axes of the second and third rollers, a threaded member positioned on said threaded shaft, a bracket fixedly connected to the spring arm opposite end and pivotally connected to said threaded member, shaft means on said bracket for mounting the associated roller, and means for rotating said threaded shaft to translate the threaded member and bracket and thereby flex said spring arm toward or away from the spindle first axis.

4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pair of discs of each roller is fabricated from polyu- 

1. An apparatus for rotating a yarn bobbin or the like at high speed comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to mount a yarn bobbin or the like for rotation about a first axis, means mounting said spindle for rotation about said first axis comprising a plurality of rollers encompassing said spindle, each of said rollers being mounted for rotation about an axis extending generally parallel to said first axis and including a circular peripheral edge adapted to frictionally engage said spindle, the diameter of said circular peripheral edge of each roller being substantially greater than the effective diameter of the spindle whereby the spindle will rotate at a multiple of the speed of said rollers, means for laterally biasing at least one of said rollers toward said spindle to thereby ensure continued frictional contact between said spindle and said rollers, and means for rotating at least one of said rollers, whereby rotational movement is transferred to said spindle, said rotating means including a rotatable circular band contacting the peripheral edge of each roller at a point generally opposite said spindle, said band defining an outer cylindrical driving surface, an endless tape operatively engaging said band driving surface, and drive means for rotating said endless tape to thereby effect rotation of said Band, rollers, and spindle.
 2. An apparatus for rotating a yarn bobbin or the like at high speed comprising a rotatable spindle adapted to mount a yarn bobbin or the like for rotation about a first axis, said spindle including a pair of axially spaced tapered shoulders defining a whorl, means mounting said spindle for rotation about said first axis comprising first, second and third rollers encompassing said spindle, each of said rollers being mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to said first axis and comprising a pair of spaced parallel discs and a coaxially disposed hub interposed between said discs, said pair of discs of each roller operatively engaging said spindle whorl for axially supporting said spindle and for transmitting rotational movement therebetween, the diameter of said pair of discs of each roller being substantially greater than the effective diameter of said spindle whorl whereby the spindle will be rotated at a multiple of the speed of said rollers, an endless drive tape operatively engaging the hub of said first roller, means for rotating said endless tape whereby the rollers and spindle are rotated, and means for mounting said first roller for rotation about a fixed axis, and means for laterally biasing said second and third rollers toward said spindle axis to ensure a firm frictional contact between said rollers and said spindle whorl, said biasing means comprising a flexible spring arm mounting each of said second and third rollers, one end of each spring arm being fixedly mounted and the opposite end of each spring arm carrying the associated roller, and means for adjustably positioning said opposite end of each spring arm to permit adjustment of the lateral biasing force.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein the means for adjustably positioning the opposite end of each spring arm comprises a threaded shaft extending perpendicular to said first axis and parallel to a line extending perpendicularly between the axes of the second and third rollers, a threaded member positioned on said threaded shaft, a bracket fixedly connected to the spring arm opposite end and pivotally connected to said threaded member, shaft means on said bracket for mounting the associated roller, and means for rotating said threaded shaft to translate the threaded member and bracket and thereby flex said spring arm toward or away from the spindle first axis.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said pair of discs of each roller is fabricated from polyurethane. 